Antislipping device



Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTISLIPPING mmcn George a. Moriarty, San Diego, cam. Application October :6, 1m, Serial No. 231,134

1a Claims. (Ci. :s-m)

The present invention relates to antislipping devices adapted to be removably attached to the soles of shoes and the like for the purpose of improving the footing of the wearer upon slippery 5 surfaces.

Such devices find extensive application in various fields of work and in numerous sports, such as golf and baseball, and particularly on surfaces which frequently change their character and firmness as met for example in hill climbing.

The principal objections by wearers of removable antislipping devices as devised prior to this invention, and the main reasons why such prior devices have not found very extensive use, are

that instead of affording surer footing and security against slipping, their construction was often so flimsy and their mounting on the shoe so insecure that their use was hazardous or even outright dangerous, or that they were of too costly, complicated, or heavy construction to serve as a practical substitute for a separate pair of shoes with permanent antislipping means.

Another disadvantage of most types of remov able antislipping devices according to the prior art is their relative inflexibility and stiffness rendering them .practically useless in all occupations or sports requiring shoes of easy flexibility.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an antislipping device which may be mounted on a shoe so as to be secure against unintentional loosening or removal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an antislipping device of light weight and small size so as to be carried along easily in a pocket, and of such simple construction that even a small child can attach the same easily and quickly to the soles of its shoes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an antislipping device which can be easily and securely adjusted to fit various types and sizes of shoes without requiring the use of tools of any kind.

5 Another object of the invention is the provision of an antislipping device which may be attached to the sole while the shoe is on the wearer's foot and without requiring tilting or bending of the foot during such attachment.

50 Still another object of the invention is the provision of an antislipping device of flexible construction which does not materially affect the flexibility of the shoe, and which improves the elasticity of the shoe and its sole to which the 55 device is attached.'

A feature of the invention, therefore, resides in providing an antislipping device which is securely mounted on the sole of a shoe by the manipulation of a single lever.

Another feature of the invention is the pro- 5 vision of an antislipping device with clamping means which are automatically adjusted to fit different types or sizes of shoes.

Complementary features of the invention are the provision: of a pair of mounting clamps at 10 the forward portion of the antislipping device, at least one of which is pivoted relative to the other; of a pair of clamps at the rear portion of the device; and of adjustable means for locking said rear clamps in various positions relative to each 15 other.

A further complementary and very important feature of the present invention is the provision of a single spring or similar'resilient means which is adapted to serve the multiple function of 20 maintaining the forward or toe clamps m gripping relation with the sole of a shoe, maintaining the single locking lever in closed position, gripping the toe portion of the shoe intermediate the sole and the upper, and maintaining the 25 rear clamps both in adjusted position relative to each other and in secure gripping relation with the sole of the shoe.

These and other objects, features and advantages will appear from the following detail de- 30 scription. of the invention, and the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the antislipping device according to the present invention, in inoperative position. 35

Fig. 2 is a fractional side view of the device shown in Fig. 1 in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the new device in operative position.

Fig. 4 is a fractional detail view showing a slightly modified arrangement in both operative and inoperative positions.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for thepurpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and first to Figs. 1 to 3, the antislipping device I. includes a resilient plate Ii, preferably of metal, of a size and shape substantially conforming with the forward portion of the sole I2 of a shoe, and extending from a point near the front end I3 of the sole I2 to the instep portion I4 thereof, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines inv Fig. 3. A plurality of spikes I5 are securely mounted on the plate II to project downwardly therefrom.

For securing the spiked plate II to the sole I2, gripping means I6 and I! are provided at the front and rear portions I8 and I9, respectively, of plate II, which are designed to be adjustable relative to each other to fit different types or sizes of soles and to be mutually cooperating to grip the sole securely.

For this purpose, the rear gripping means I! form an adjustable yoke and include clamping members 26 and 2| which are slidably and pivotally associated with each other and consist of substantially flat superimposed strips of metal 22 and 23 which carry at their outer ends hooked portions 24 and 25 adapted to extend over the welt 26 of the shoe at opposite sides thereof.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, preferably the inner clamping member 26 of each pair of antislipping devices is rigidly secured to the plate I I at the rear end I9 thereof through mounting the strip 22 by means of rivets 21 or any other suitable means on the undersurface of plate I I so that the rear edge 26 of plate II overlies the rear edge 29 of strip 22'.

For associating'clamping members 26 and 2| to be adjustable relative to each other, a longitudinally extending slot 36 is provided in the stationary strip 22, and a similar slot 3| but of slightly larger dimensions, is formed in the plate II. A stud 32 which is secured to strip 23 of the outer clamping member 2| at a point spaced from the outer end 33 thereof, fits slidably and pivotally within slot 36. An enlarged head 34 on stud 32 which is adapted to slide within slot 3| in plate II, prevents stud 32 from dropping out of slot 36 and secures the outer clamping member 2| to the inner clamping member 26 and, through the latter, to plate II. A plurality of notches 35 are further provided in the corresponding rear edges 26 and 29 of the plate II. and strip 22, and an upstanding finger .36 on the outer end 33 of strip 23 is adapted to engage into one or another of notches 35 so as to secure clamping member 2| in various positions relative to member 26.

For connecting the rear portion of plate II securely to the sole of a shoe, a simple adjustment of the outer clamping member 2| is made by pivoting the same forwardly about stud 32 so as to disengage finger 36 from notches 35; sliding the member 2| into one or the other direction relative to member 26 until the hooked portions 24 and 25 of both members substantially engage and grip the sole I2 at opposite sides thereof; and thenby pivoting the member rearwardlyso that finger 36 engages into its corresponding notch 35 to hold member 2| in its new position. The locking of the adjustable member 2| in a fixed position relative to the complementary member 26 is effected by drawing the plate forwardly whereby a force is exerted by the outwardly curved portions 31 of the sole upon the hooked portions 24 and 25 tending to pull member 2| outwardly and pivot the same rearwardly or in a clockwise direction. Such tendency to pivot member 2| rearwardly constantly produced by the action of the forward gripping means I6 when in operative position, as described subselation with the sole I2.

The forward gripping means I6 which secure the toe portion I6 of plate II to the sole I2 and cooperate with the rear gripping means II to lock the same in adjusted position and in gripping contact with the instep portion I4 of the sole, include a pair of clamping members'39 and 46 at opposite sides of the toe portion I6 of plate II, and a coil spring 4| connecting clamping members 39 and 46 and adapted to grip the tip of the toe portion of the shoe and to be placed intermediate the welt 26 and the upper 42.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, clamping member 39 comprises a. lower fiat portion 43 which is pivotally mounted near one end on the lower surface of plate II by a stud 44, and a flanged or hooked portion 45 which is bent or shaped so as to be inclined forwardly relative to the flat portion 43, thus permitting greater pivotal movement oi the hooked portion 45 relative to plate II. v

The other clamping member 46 is of substantially U-shaped cross-section and includes upper and lower arms 46 and 41, the latter being pivotally secured by a stud 48 to the outer end of a strap 49, which is rigidly mounted on plate II by rivets 56 or the like. Thus, clamping member 46 maybe pivoted about a vertical axis approximately at, or closely adjacent, the outer edge of plate II. The forwardly projecting end 5| of the upper arm 46 of clamping member 46 is provided with an outwardly directed ear 52 on which a lever 53 is pivotally mounted about a pin 54. A notch 55 in lever 53 is adapted to engage with a hookshaped projection 56 on the rear end of the upper arm 46 of member 46, which acts as a stop to limit movement of lever 53 in one direction.

For placing the two sets of gripping means I 6 and I! into engagement with the sole I2 of a shoe and for maintaining the same in gripping position thereon, the present invention provides a coil spring 4|, the solid end portion 51 of which is pivotally mounted on lever 53 by means of a pin 56 intermediate pin 54 and stop 56. The other solid end portion 59 of spring 4| may be adjustably secured to the other clamping member 39 by means of a hook 66 provided on the forward end of the upper portion 45 of member 39, which is adapted to engage into one or another of a plurality of holes 6| in the end portion 59.

For securing the device described above and shown in Figs. 1 to 3 to the sole I2 of a shoe, the same is first placed into an inoperative position substantially as shown in Fig. 1, by disconnecting spring 4| from hook 66 and extending the yoke I1 to its extreme width. Plate II is then attached to the sole I2 so that the hooked clamping members 26 and 2| of yoke I! are located at opposite sides of the instep portion I4 of the sole. Thereupon, clamping member 2| is slidably moved toward the complementary member 26 of yoke I'I until the hooked portions 24 and 25 of both members are substantially in engagement with the sole I2, whereupon member 2| is pivoted slightly rearwardly so that finger 36 engages into one of the notches 35. Plate II is then moved forwardly along sole I2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the forward clamping members 39 and 46 are pivoted into engagement with the sole I2; spring 4| is secured to hook 66 by one or the other of holes OI, depending on the size and shape of sole l2, so as to engage the shoe intermediate the welt and the upper 42; and then lever BI is pivoted rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 to tighten spring ll.

By such tightening of spring ll, the plate II is drawn forwardly whereby the hooked portions 24 and 25' of yoke ll likewise are drawn into secure gripping engagement with the sole l2 and maintained in locked position relative to each other. Concurrently, clamping members and are pivoted into secure gripping engagement with the toe portion of the sole II, while the spring ll engages and grips the entire tip of the toe portion intermediate the clamping members 39 and 40.

When lever 53 is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, pin on which spring H is mounted is spaced closer to the sole i2 than the pivot pin 54 of lever 53, so that the spring always tends to maintain lever 53 in such position and in engagement with stop hook 56.

Thus, it will be apparent that by the cooperation of the various gripping or clamping elements according to the present invention, the spiked plate II is mounted securely at its rear end on the sole at opposite sides thereof by the yoke i1, and at its entire forward end and around the tip of the toe portion thereof, by the clamping members 38 and 40 and spring ll. Such secure but resilient mountinghas the further important advantage that plate II which may consist of relatively flexible material, adapts itself at all times to the changing contour of the tread surface of the sole I2 against which it rests, and that the flexibility of plate I i is not affected by the mounting elements.

Furthermore, by the provision of: the adjustable yoke 11, the pivoting arrangement of the forward clamping members 39 and 40, the resilience of spring ll, and the possibility of adjusting the strength of the spring by engaging one or another of holes 6| with the hook 60, the plate H may be easily and securely connected to soles of various sizes and shapes.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 4 differs from the construction described above and shown in Figs. 1 to 3, merely in the substitution of a different pivoting connection of the outer forward clamping member 40' to plate II. In order to permit a larger radius of movement of clamping member 40', and greater adaptability thereof to shoes of diflerent size or shape, the lower arm 41' thereof is extended and pivoted directly on the plate ii to function in a similar manner to the other clamping member 39.

In all of the forms, therefore, it is seen that the antislipping device provided by the present invention is simple in construction, very efficient and readily adaptable for use with shoes of different types, sizes or shapes.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described-the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An antislipping device for shoes comprising a body member; antislipping means on said body member; pivotally and slldably related means for securing said body member to a rear portion of a shoe sole at opposite sides thereof; interengaging means associated with said securin means for limiting relative sliding and pivotal movement therebetween; and resilient means engaging the toe portion of the sole, drawing said securing means into gripping engagement with the sole and maintaining said interengaging means in operative relation.

2. An antislipping device for shoes comprising a plate; antislipping means on said plate; means on a rear portion of said plate adapted to engage a rear portion of the sole; and movable means on the forward end of said plate adapted to engage the toe portion of the sole and to maintain said rear means in engaging position with the sole.

3. An antislipping device for shoes comprising a body; means at the rear of said body adapted to grip a shoe sole; movable means at the front of said body, having gripping and nongripping positions; and means for maintaining said mov-. able means in the gripping position.

4. An antislipping device for shoes comprising a. plate; antislipping means on said plate; an adjustable yoke at the rear end of said plate adapted to clamp around a rear portion of a shoe sole; a pair of members adapted to engage the toe portion of the sole and grip the same at opposite sides thereof; and resilient means engaging the tip of said toe portion.

5. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; a yoke having a pivoted member, adapted to clamp around a rear portion of a shoe sole; and resilient means engaging the toe portion of the sole and drawing and maintaining said pivoted member into gripping engagement with said sole.

6. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said elements; a yoke adapted to clamp around a rear portion of a shoe sole; resilient means adaptedto engage the toe portion of the sole;' and releasable means for placing said resilient means into engaging position with the sole and for drawing said yoke into gripping engagement with the sole.

'7. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; a yoke at the rear end of said element adapted to grip a rear portion of a shoe sole; a pair of members mounted on said element to pivot relative to each other, and adapted to clamp the toe portion of the sole at opposite sides thereof; and resilient means connecting said members and adapted to draw the same into engaging position with the sole.

8. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; a yoke at the rear end of said element adapted to grip a rear portion of a shoe sole; a pair of members mounted on said element so as to pivot relative to each other, and adapted to clamp the toe portion of the sole at opposite sides thereof; and resilient means connecting said members and adapted to engage the tip of the toe portion of the sole and to draw said members into engaging position with the sole.

9. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; a yoke at the rear end of said element adapted to grip a rear portion of a shoe sole; a pair of members mounted on said element to pivot relative to each other, and adapted to clamp the toe portion of the sole at opposite sides thereof; resilient means connecting said members and adapted to engage the tip of the toe portion of the sole and to draw said members into engaging position with the sole; and releasable means for locking said resilient means and said members in engaging position with the sole.

10. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; an adjustable yoke adapted to grip around portions of a shoe sole at opposite sides thereof, and comprising a stationary clamping member on said element, a second clamping member mounted on said element so as to be slidable relative to said stationary member; means for locking said slidable member in adjusted position relative to said stationary member; and resilient means adapted to engage the toe portion of said sole and. to maintain said slidable member in locked position.

11. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; an adjustable yoke adapted to grip around portions of a shoe sole at opposite sides thereof, and comprising a stationary clamping member on said element, a second clamping member" mounted on said element so as to be adjustable relative to said stationary member; means for locking said adjustable member in adjusted position relative to said stationary member; and means adapted to engage the toe portion of said sole and to maintain said adjustable member in locked position.

12. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; an adjustable yoke adapted to grip a rear portion of a shoe sole at opposite sides thereof, said yoke comprising a stationary clamping member, a second clamping member slidably and pivotally mounted on said element .and adapted to be pivoted rearwardly from a 'slidable position to a locking position; and means for clamping the forward portion of said sole, and for maintaining said yoke in gripping engagement with the sole, and said pivotable member in locked position.

13. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; connecting means on said element for securing a rear portion thereof to a shoe sole; a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on said element and adapted to grip a forward portion of the sole at opposite sides thereof; and resilientmeans on said members for pivoting the same into gripping position.

14. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; connecting means on said element for securing a rear portion thereof to the sole of a shoe; 9. pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on a forward portion of said element and adapted to gripthe sole at opposite sides thereof; a resilient member connecting said clamping members and adapted to engage the forward end of said sole; and means for tighteningv and releasing said resilient member.

15. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element; antislipping means on said element; connecting means on said element for securing a rear portion thereof to said sole; a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on a forward portion of said element and adapted to grip the sole at opposite sides thereof; a resilient member connecting said clamping members and adapted to engage the forward end of said sole; and a single element for placing said rear connecting means, said forward clamping means and said resilient member into gripping engagement with said sole.

16. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element antislipping means on said element; connecting'means on said element for securing a rear portion thereof to a shoe sole; a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on a forward portion of said element and adaptedv to grip the sole at opposite sides thereof; a resilient member connected at one endto one of said clamping members; and a lever pivotally connecting said other clamping membeawith the other end of said resilient member for tightening the latter and for thereby pivoting said clamping members into gripping engagement with the sole.

17. An antislipping device for shoes comprising an element having antislipping means thereon; means for securing a rear portion of said element to a shoe sole; a pair of clamping members mounted on a forward portion of said element, adapted to grip a forward portion of the sole at opposite sides thereof, at least one of said clamping members being pivotally mounted; and resilient means connecting said pair of clamping members and engageable with the forward end of said shoe for maintaining said pivoted mem-, ber in sole gripping position and for maintaining said rear securing means in gripping relation with said sole.

18. An antislippingv device for shoes comprising an element having antislipping means thereon; means on said element for securing a rear portion thereof to a shoe sole; a'pair of clamping members mounted on a forward portion of said element, adapted to grip a portion of the sole at opposite sides thereof; at least one of said clamping members being pivotally mounted; a lever; pivot means connecting said lever and said pivoted clamping member; and resilient means connected to said lever at a point spaced from said pivot means, and connected to said other clamping member on the opposite side of said element, said resilient means urging said pivoted clamping member away from said sole when the lever is swung in one direction and urging said pivoted clamping member toward and in gripping relation with the sole when the lever is swung in the other direction. GEORGE A. MORIARTY: 

